Beet harvester



Feb; 25, 1930. R. c. ZUCKERMAN 4 BEE'I HARVE S TER I Filedwed. 14, 1929 s' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN'ITOR R dcla'erm m1 BY ,v Q 1.3m

ATTORNEY R. C. ZUCKERMAN BEET HARVBSTER Feb; 25 1 93b.

Filed Dec. 14, 1,929

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 15 I lNVENTO 20 n 15 R. C. ermm BY 6 M12321;

' ATTORNEY Feb. 25, 1930. R. C..ZU(;iKERMAN 1,748,746

BEET HARYESTER Fil D 1 929 3 Sheets-Sheet a v a 7 INVENJ'OR R.C Z uekerm.al2

BYQ.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1930 I UNITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE ROSCOE C. ZUCKERMAN, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA BEE'I HARVESTER Application filed December 14,1929. I Serial No. 414,084.

This invention relates. to the sugar beet industry, and articularly to' a machine for topping and'dlgging the beets. In connection with beets of this character it is essential that.

removed a part of the beet which has no sugar.

content and hence'no value, and which adds to the bulk to be treated in the refinery to no useful purpose, is retained; thus of course cutting down the sugar output at the refinery relative to the total quantity ofbeets handled.

' Automatically functioning topping devices, which aim to gage the level of cutting. of the topping element by the-aid of aguide shoe or the like to first engage the beet, have been tried out. ,Such devices however have proved unsatisfactory in -ractice,'since it has been found impossible or devices of this character to act with the necessary speed and accuracy. Manually controlled topping units have also been previously suggested, to take the place of the automatic devices. In all. Y 'such manually controlled devices, as far as I am aware, however, the operator has been positioned at such'a distance from the top-' pingunit itself that it is impossible for him to properly see the beets "about to be topped and to accurately gage the level at which the cutting element should be disposed relative tothe beet to obtain the best results.

It is therefore the principal aim of my in- 40 vention to provide a manually cont zolled toppingdevice mounted directly on a beet harvester, so arranged that the operator. f

the topping device is positioned so that he can readily see andv closely gage the level of the cutting of the topping unit relative to the beet, thus removing the element of uncertainty present in the previous devices.

I have also provided an apparatus of this character in which a number of topping units,

' each adapted to topa single row of beets and controlled by a corresponding number of operators, are mounted in connection with a single digging and conveying mechanism; This enables a multiplicityof rows of beets to be allproperly topped at the same time, and

subsequently all dug up together, with one machine and during a single movement of the same along the field. I have also provided in connection with the different topping units, a means for engaging and conveying all the topped portions of the beets as they are severed and for delivering the same in a definite position to pne side of the machine instead of leaving them scattered along the individual rows.

As a further object I have provided in connection with the main conveying apparatus of the harvester a means for causing any dirt adhering to thebeets to be removed therefrom before the beets .are finally discharged from the harvester onto the Wagon which conveys them to the refinery. By this means the-beets when thus delivered onto the wagon are free frompractically all dirt and are in relatively clean condition, so that subsequent pilegning operations are considerably simplisuch structure. and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the "following specification and 'claims.

1 In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views a I Fig. 1 is a side apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged. fragmentary section of a cutting and top catching and conveying unit.

Fig. 3 is a front end view of a pair of such units.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same.

.Fig. '5 is a top plan View of the rear end beet conveying and cleaning structure.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the machine comprises a main horizontal supelevation of the complete porting frame 1 mountedtoward its rear end These objects- I accomplish by means of beet topping units and their operators; there track units 2, and at its forward end on steerable wheels 3.,

5 mounted on the frame, which diflerential is driven through" a transmission indicated at 6', from agas engine or the like mounted on the frame structure and enclosed in the mally held on the level but are-adapted to be raised from such level at will by one .or more cables 9 extending about a hand controlled drum and hoist device mounted on the frame 1, and indicated at 10. This auxiliary frame structure supports the manually controlled being as many separate units, each adapted to top a single row of beets, mounted on the one frame as may be desired'or found most practicable.

I surrounds the discs on both'sides and also Each such unit is constructed and mounted as follows:

. Depending from the beams 8 toward their rear ends and rigid therewith are transversely spaced uprights 11 to each of which is pivoted a pair of forwardly extending vertically spaced bars 12. The two adjacent pairs of such bars are pivoted at their forward ends onto and support vertical frame elements 13 from which vertically disposed and transversely extending housings 14 depend. Y A control handle 15 is rigid with and projects forwardly from the housing; tension springs 16 between the housing and the fixed structure above and rearwardly of the same holding said housing normally suspended at a'certain level and acting as a counterbalance.

Turnable in the housing in transversely spaced relation to each other relative to the transverse plane ofthe harvester are wheels or discs 17 about which an endless band saw 18 extends; the. cutting edge of said saw facing forwardly. The housing completely the upper runof the saw, but is cut out, both at front and back, between said discs from the bottom toward the top so as to leave a relatively large opening 19- therethrough, the

lower run of the saw intermediate the discs being thus exposed.

Fixed at their front ends to the front of the housing to one side. of said opening 19 are a number of vertically "spaced transversely resilient deflector bars 20, projecting first ahead of the housing some distance and then through the opening 19 to rearward terminaat a transverse and-upward angle rearwardly tions in overhanging relation to a cross draper 21 supported from the auxiliary frame structure as plainly shown in the drawin s.

This draper extendsthe full width of the The units 2 are driven by chain drives 4: or the llke from a differential machine or past all the different topping gu'nits, and is driven by any suitable means ffsuch as an electric motor 22 mounted in direct "bracket 24. The sprockets are set with their axes in transverse vertical planes so that the runs of the chain will be spaced transversely of each other, but parallel tothe bars in a longitudinal direction; the run of the chain nearest the bars being somewhat close thereto. Rigid fingers 25 project outwardly. from the chain at intervals, being position'ed'to project between adjacent bars.

Suitable driving means is provided for operating the saw and chain of eachunit. In the present instance I have such means as constituting an'electric motor 26 mounted on the housing 14: and directly connected to one of the discs 17; and another electric motor 27 mounted on the, bracket 24 and connected to the rear sprocket 23 of the chain by a suitable reduction drive su'chas a worm and wheel structure 28. The current for the motors is obtained from a generator 29 mounted on the frame 1 and driven from the gas engine thereso that vertical adjustment of the cutters may be made while maintaining the cutters in constant parallelism to the ground and, at-

the same time, while maintaining the deflectors 20'and chains 23 in correct angular 'relation to the cutters.

vAs previously stated, there are a number of separate topping units on the one machine,

which are spaced apart, as to their exposed saw portions, a distance equal to' the standard spacing between adjacent rows of beets. In order to enable said saw portions to be thus exposed, without making the units so small as to be weak and unsubstantial, I arrange them in overlapping but not contacting relation at their adjacent ends, as shown in Figs.

3 and 4. To. enable the different units to be individually controlled by separate operators I I mount a continuous bench 31 or individual seats in front of said units and suspended from the beams 8; said bench or seats extending transversely of the machine and being positioned so that the workers occupying the same are seated in facing relation to the topping units, and so that they can conveniently reach and manipulate the various handles 15.

The operators are therefore facin away from the direction of movement of t e machine, or in other. words are sitting backwards, but this is no disadvantage as far as the efficiency oftheir control of the topping units is concerned, but ratherthe reverse.

This is because the operators can thus .be l-' cated so close to the units and the saws that 3 they can very-readily see the saws and accurately gage the cutting levels of the same relative to the beets to be topped. This would be impossible ifthe operators were located behind the units and facing forwardly of the machine, since the necessary conveying and discharging, apparatus disposed rearwardly of-the topping units would of course be in the way of their of the saws and beets.

In operation therefore with the advance of the machine alongthe ground, and with the various .moving parts of the topping units proper and close vision in operation, the different controlling oper-,

ators of said units seated on the bench manipulate said units up or down as may be necessary .to position the respective saws so as to cut through the tops of the beets at just the I right height, as their judgment and experience determines. A beet top as being severed 'passes'between the bars 20 and the corresponding chain 23, which, being somewhat close-to the bars, causes the leaf portion of the top to be squeezed and held between said bars and chain so that the top will not drop,

the bars yielding lateral-ly if necessary to acsingle windrow which extends along the path of movement of the machine.

"The topped beets temporarily remain in the ground, but with the continued forward movement of the machine they are dug by a blade 32, common to all the .rows topped, and

' vdelivered from said blade onto conveyors 33 mounted in unitary association therewith.

This conveying and digging unit'is mount-' ed in connection with the frame 1; the conveyors extending upwardly and rearwardly I from the blade to a rearward termination above and at the rear end of the frame 1. These conveyors discharge onto'a pair of transversely extending horizontal drapers 34 supported from the frame .1 at its rear end and driven in opposite directions so that said drapers discharge at their oute'r or opposite ends. The drapers deliver into hoppers 35 which feed into the outer ends of transverse ly extending and spaced drums 36, which are formed of slats or are otherwise of a foraminous nature so that dirt may drop therethrough while the beets will be retained therein. The drums arerotated by any suit-. able driving connections from the. power plant of the harvester and have oppositely disposed auger conveyors 37 therein arranged to cause the beets totravel'lengthwisethrough the drums toward their adjacent ends, from which they pass onto an upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyor 38 mounted in connection with the harvester and drums. This conveyor 38 is adapted to deliver into a wagon39 disposed behind the harvester and releas'ably coupled thereto, as shown in Fig; l.

Between the time the beets are dug and delivered into the wagon therefore they are subjected to a tumbling action in the drums,

which effectually removes all dirt which may cling to the same so that the beets when finally deposited in the wagon are in a clean condition for delivery to the refinery. If. desired, platforms 40 may bemounted on the machine behind the drums or otherwise adj acent the drapers 34, so that an inspector may if necessary travel with the machine and inspect the beets as they are delivered onto the drapers, so that he may see, whether they are being properly topped, and may also of course judge the general condition 0t the beets. i

. From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device asfsubstantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

WVhile'this specification sets fol-thin detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention,

as defined by the appended claims.

Attention is directed to my copending application for patent, Ser. No. 413,814, filed Dec. 13,1929. e

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a vegetable harvester having I a wheel supported frame adapted to travel along the ground, a vertically movable top- 5 'ing unit mounted in connection with said rame, manually o'peratedmeans for thus moving said unit, and a support for the operator of said means mounted in close association with the unit.

2. In a vegetable harvester having a wheel supported frame adapted to travel along theground, a vertically movable topping unit mounted in connection with ,saidframe, a rigid handle projecting forwardly from said unit relative to the direction of advancing movement of the harvester, and a seatfor the operator supported from the harvester ahead of the handle whereby the operator will face rearwardly of said direction of advancement. 1

iso

ting element and extending from ahead "of vester adjacent theunit and'relatively close 'tothe ground.

a vegetable harvester havinga wheel supported frame adapted to travel along the ground, a vertically movable topping unit.

mounted in connection with said frame, manually operated means for thus moving said innit, .and a seat for the operator of said means mounted in connection with the harmeans mounted directly onthe unit for independently driving the blade, and means I supporting said blade for vertical movement relative to the ground. v

5. In a beet harvester, a beet topping unit including a horizontal cutting element to successively engage and cut the tops ofi a 'row of beets with the advancing movement of the harvester, means for moving the unitup and down at will for controlling the-level of the cutting element, said means being arranged to maintain the cutting elementparallel to the ground in all positions; a draper behind the ,unit separate therefrom and mounted.

in a relatively fixed position, and means fixed on the unit, to move vertically in fixed angular relationtherewith, for engaging the tops of the beets as they are severed and conveying 1 r efiecting ad ustment for height.

them to the .draper.

6.- In a beet harvester, avbeet topper unit ,including a horizontal cutting element to successivelyengage and cut the tops ofl a row of beets with the advancing movement of the harvester, a draper at the rear of. the cutting element and spaced therefrom, verti cally spaced resilient deflector bars mounted in connection with the unit above the cutthe element to a rearward termination in overhanging relation to the draper, con-v veyor means associated with 'the bars for holdinga beet top, as it is severed against the bars and for causing said top to be moved along the bars until-the rear end of the latter is reached and parallel motion means for adjustably supporting thecutting element, the deflector bars and conveyor to permit vertical adjustment thereof .while maintainingtheir angular interrelation and the parallelism of the cutting means to the ground.

7. A vegetable harvester including avehide, a topping mechanism carried-by the vehicle, and an operators seat supported by the vehicle close to the ground and positioned to permit the operator to closely'observe the approach of the toppingmechanism to the vegetables to be topped. v 4

8. A vegetable topping harvester including a topping mechanism, and an operators seat adjacent the topping'mechanism and positioned to permit the operator to closely observe the approach of the toppingmechanism to the vegetables to be topped.

s 9. Ajvegetable topping harvester including a topping mechanism adjustable for height, and an operators seat adjacent the topping mechanism and positioned to permit the operator to closely observe the-approach of the topping mechanism to the vegetables to be topped, said topping mechanism including means to be controlled-by the operator in said seat for effecting adjustment for height.

10. A vegetable topping harvester incl'udinga topping mechanismadjustable for height, anoperatorsseat adjacent the top- I ping mechanism and positioned to permit the operator to closely observe the approach of the toppingmechanism to the vegetables to be topped, said topping mechanism including means to be controlled by the o erator in said seat for effecting adjustmentf dr height,

and springs urging said topping mechanism upwardly.

11. A vegetable topping harvester includingatopping mechanism adjustable for height, and an-operators seat adjacentthe topping mechanism in advance thereof and positioned topermit the operator to closely observe the approachof the topping mechanism to the vegetables to be topped, said toppingmechanism including means to be controlled by the operator in said seat for e 12. A vegetable topping harvester in-v topping'mechanism and facing the sameclose i to the ground to permit the operator to closely observe the approach of the topping mechanism to the vegetables to be topped, said topping mechanism including' means to be controlled by the operator in said seat for effecting adjustment for height.

13. A vegetable harvester including a vehicle, a top cutting mechanism suspended from'the vehicle frame, an operators seat. supported by the 'vehicle'and extending to a point'closely adjacent. the. ground and inproximity tothe cutting mechanism to permit the operator-to closely observethe approach of the cutting mechanism to thervegetables to be topped and to accurately gage the vpoint of contact of the cutter'with the vegetables. j

14. In a vegetable harvester, a main vehicle, a suspended frame projecting forwardly of and supported on the main vehicle, a'seat carried by the suspended frame closely adjacent the ground, and a topping means controllable by an occupantof the seat.

In testimony-whereof I aflix my signature.

ROSCOE C. ZUCKERMAN. 

